Picture hanging bracket



March 21, 1961 J. w. (5088 PICTURE HANGING BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 5, 1959 IN VEN TOR. Ja/mes Wloss ATTORNEYS March 21, 1961 J.w. GOSS PICTURE HANGING BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1959INVENTOR. Jwmes Wfoss ATTORNEYS United States Patent This inventionpertains to brackets for hanging pictures, mirrors, shadow boxes, andsimilar objects upon walls. More particularly, it relates to a hangerfor hanging a picture or similar object closely against a wall.

Heretofore various devices for hanging pictures, mirrors or the likehave been used but they have been inadequate to the extent that anyportion of the picture is spaced from the wall. The greater the spacingbetween any portion of the picture and the wall, the more unsightly theappearance. Moreover, most prior picture hanging devices have beeninadequate because they are not easily adjustable for readily hangingthe picture permanently in an upright, straight position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a bracket forhanging pictures or the like snugly against a wall in a neatly appearingmanner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bracket for hangingpictures or the like on a wall in an easily adjustable and permanentlystraight manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bracket for hangingpictures and the like on a wall, which bracket is composed of a minimumof parts composed of sheet metal and having a relatively flat side view.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bracket for hangingpictures having an easily adjusted spring pawl engageable with a ratchetfor readily positioning a picture in a straight position.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedpicture hanging device which accomplishes the foregoing objects anddesiderata in a simple, elfective and inexpensive manner.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in theart from the following description and claims may be attained, thestated results achieved, and described difficulties overcome by thediscoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, combinations, subcombinationsand elements which comprise the present invention, the nature of whichis set forth in the following statement, preferred embodiments of which,illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplatedapplying the principles, are set forth in the following description, andwhich are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in theappended claims forming part hereof.

The improved picture hanging bracket of the present invention may bestated in general terms as including .an attaching plate having screwholes for attachment to the back of a picture frame, a slide bar havinga keyhole at the upper end for attachment by a nail or screw to a wall,the slide bar being slidably'mounted on the attaching plate and having aratchet portion, a spring pawl pivotally mounted on the attaching plateand operatively engageable with the ratchet portion of the slide bar, aspring attached at one end to the attaching plate and connected to thepawl for holding the pawl in operative or nonoperative positions withrespect to the ratchet, the slide bar having shoulder means at upper iceand lower ends of the ratchet portion for actuating the V pawl intooperative and non-operative positions with respect to the ratchet, and acover plate for the operating parts including the pawl, ratchet andspring, which cover plate includes side flanges for limiting movement ofthe pawl in the non-operative position.

In the drawings which are illustrative of the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, by way of example:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a picture or the like, showing themanner in which the improved brackets are attached to the rear surfaceof the picture;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the bracket shown in Fig. 1,showing a minimum of space occupied by the bracket between the pictureand the wall;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation with a portion broken away,showing the pawl in the ratchet-engaged position and showing in brokenline the pawl .at the upper end of the ratchet in the disengagedposition;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the bracket with a portion broken away toshow the manner in which the pawl is actuated from the disengaged to theratchet-engaging position and showing in broken line the position of thepawl in the disengaged position;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the bracket,showing the pawl in the ratchet-engaged position and showing in brokenline the pawl at the upper end of the ratchet in the disengagedposition;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention withsides reversed from Fig. 5, showing a pawl in the ratchet-engagedposition, and showing the pawl in broken line in the disengagedposition; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 3.

-. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

In Fig. 1 a pair of similar brackets generally indicated atl are mountedon the back of a picture, mirror or similar object 2 by means of screws3 as. shown. The bracket 1 includes an attaching plate 4, a slide bar 5,a spring pawl 6, a spring 7 (Fig. 3), and a cover 8. The attaching plate4 includes a number of vertically spaced holes 9 for securing thebracket 1 by the screws 3 to the back of the picture 2. The plate 4 alsoincludes a pair of slides 10 and 11 which are offset from the plane ofthe plate for slidable mounting of the slide bar 5. As shown in thedrawings, the slide bar 5 is slidable on and adjacent to the plate 4where it is retained by the slides 10 and 11.

The slide bar 5 is an elongated member having an inverted keyhole slot12 at its upper end by which the bracket 1 is attached to a wall surface13 by means of a screw 14 or the like as shown in Fig. 2. Moreover, asshown in 'Fig. 3, the slot 12 has a horizontally elongated or T-portion15 at the upper end which, together with a similar portion in thebracket 1 at the other side of the picture 2, cooperates to compensateby horizontal adjustment for any error in relative location of twoscrews 14 to support the picture.

The intermediate portion of the slide bar 5 has a recess 16 from oneedge and the recessed edge of the bar has a ratchet surface 17, whichsurface operates with the spring pawl 6 (Fig. 3) in a manner to bedescribed below. In addition, the upper end of the recess includespawl-actuating means or shoulder 18. Likewise, the lower end of therecess is provided with pawl-actuating means or shoulder 19 as shown inFig. 3.

As shown in the several views of the drawing, the attaching plate 4includes an outwardly extending portion or transverse projection 20. Thespring pawl 6 is mounted on one side of the attaching plate 4 and issupported by the projection 20 thereof. The pawl 6 is pivotally mounted(Fig. 3) on the plate 4 by a pivot pin or rivet 21 which is secured onthe plate 4. The pawl 6 is a relatively short member having apivot-pin-receiving hole 22 near its upper side and having ratchet teeth23 along one end thereof adjacent the ratchet 17. The end of the pawl 6remote from the ratchet teeth 23 includes a notch 24 and opposite edgesof the pawl have notches 25 and 26 near the ratchet teeth and on theside of the pivot hole 22 adjacent the ratchet teeth.

One end 27 of the spring 7 is mounted on the attaching plate 4. Thespring 7 is substantially arcuate, having the lower end pressing againstthe outer end of the pawl 6, in which position the spring 7 holds thepawl in operative engagement with the ratchet 17. As was stated above,the upper end 27 of the spring is fixedly attached to the plate 4,preferably by an out-turned or transverse portion 28 (Fig. 7) whichextends through an aperture in the plate. A small flange 23 is providedon the plate 4 near the upper end, which flange holds the lower end ofthe spring 7 in place against the outer end of the pawl 6.

Moreover, the lower end of the spring 7 is rounded or arcuate at 30 tofacilitate sliding of the end of the spring along the end of the pawl 6and into and out of the notch 24, as shown by the broken line portion ofFigs. 3 and 4. The operating parts of the bracket including the slidebar 5, the pawl 6, and the spring 7 are disposed between the plate 4 andthe cover 8. The cover 8 is secured to the plate 4 by the pivot pin orrivet 21 which extends through a pin-receiving aperture 31 (Fig. l) inthe cover 8.

The cover 8 is spaced from the plate 4 by a distance substantially equalto the thickness of the slide bar 5, pawl 6, and spring 7, whichdistance is maintained by a pair of oppositely disposed flanges 32 and33 extending toward and contacting the surface of the plate 4. The cover8 serves to hold all of the operating parts in alignment with each otherand to prevent their becoming disengaged for any reason.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the slide bar is movable vertically withrespect to the pawl 6, or conversely, the pawl together with theattaching plate 4 is movable upwardly with respect to the slide bar 5.

When a pair of brackets 1 are mounted on the back of a picture 2 or thelike as shown in Fig. l and the upper end of the slide bars 5 is securedon a wall by screws 14, the picture is then raised until the upper sidethereof covers the upper end of the slide bars 5. In raising the picture2, the resulting position may be crooked and it may therefore benecessary to move one end without the other; that is, it may benecessary to move the pawl 6 of one bracket 1 without moving the otherin order to get the picture horizontal.

If by such manipulation the pawls 6 of both brackets 1 reach the upperend of their corresponding ratchets 17 and the picture is either toohigh or is still crooked, it may be necessary to disengage the pawls 6from their ratchets in order to lower the entire assembly upon the slidebars 5 and subsequently re-arrange the pawls at the lower end of theirratchet 17 and start the adjustment again. For that purpose the pawls 6are simply raised upwardly until their upper sides, and moreparticularly the notches 25, are brought into contact with thepawlactuating means or shoulders 18. Further raising there after of thepawls 6 cause the pawls to rotate about their pivot pins 21 and out ofengagement with the ratchet 6. At the same time, the lower end 30 of thesprings 7 slide into the notches 24 (broken line portion of Fig. 3),whereby the pawl 6 is maintained in the disengaged position.

It is then possible to lower the assembly of the picture 2 with thebracket 1 downwardly with respect to the slide bars 5, the pawls 6maintaining their non-operating positions as shown by the broken lineportion of Fig. 4-. When the pawls 6 reach the lower end of the ratchets7, the lower side of the pawls and particularly the notch 26, engagesthe pawl-actuating means or shoulder 19 and subsequent lowering of thepawl forces the ratchet teeth 23 thereof into engagement with theratchet 17, which movement forces the lower end 30 of the spring out ofengagement with the notch 24. Thereafter the entire assembly includingthe picture 2 and the brackets 1 may be raised together on thestationary slide bars 5 until the desired horizontal position isachieved. During such raising operation the lower end 30 of the spring 7again rides upon the outer end of the pawl 6 to hold the pawl teeth 23in engagement with the ratchet teeth 17.

Another embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at 34- inFig. 5, which includes an attaching plate 35 and a slide bar 36, both ofwhich are similar to the attaching plate 4 and slide bar 5 as set forthabove with respect to Figs. 14. The bracket 34 also includes a pawl 37which diifers from the pawl 6 only to the extent that the pawl 37, beingslightly longer, has an outer end 38 which extends beyond a side 39 ofthe plate 35. Moreover, the pawl 37 includes a notch 40 along the lowerside thereof, which notch is engaged by the upper end 4-1 of a spring42, the lower end of which has an outturned transverse portion (notshown) secured in an aperture 43 in the plate 35 in a manner similar tothat of the bracket 1.

The bracket 34 includes a cover 44 having an edge flange 45 abutting theplate 35 on one side of the slide bar 36 and having a pair of similarflanges 46 and 47 engaging the plate 35 on the other side of the slidebar 36. The cover 44 is held in place by a pivot pin or rivet 48.

In operation, the pawl 37 having ratchet teeth 49 which engage theratchet 50, is held in engagement with the ratchet 50 by the spring 42.In such position the notch 40 of the pawl 37 is disposed on the leftside of an imaginary line 51 passing through the centers of the pin 48and the aperture 43. On the other hand, when the pawl 37 is disposed inthe non-operative position as shown by the broken line portion of Fig.5, which position may be attained by manipulating the bracket 34 in amanner similar to that described with regard to bracket 1, the notch 40is disposed on the right of the imaginary line 51. The spring 42maintains the pawl 37 in either the operative or non-operative positionswith the notch 40 on either side of the line 51 and either position maybe achieved by rotating the pawl 37 with sufficient force eitherclockwise or counterclockwise against the force of the spring.

In addition to manipulating the pawl 37 between operative andnon-operative positions by pawl-actuating means or shoulders 52 and 53in a manner similar to that described for the bracket 1, the pawl 37 maybe manipulated manually by contacting the end 38 of the pawl 37 androtating the pawl in either direction. When the pawl is moved to thenon-operative position as shown by the broken line portion of Fig. 5, anupper corner 54 engages the flange 46 to prevent the spring 42 fromrotating the pawl 37 too far out of position.

Another embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at 55 in Fig.6. The bracket 55 is reversed from the two other embodiments andincludes an attaching plate 56, a slide bar 57 having a ratchet portion58, a pawl 59, a spring 60, and a cover 61. The attching plate 56 andslide bar 57 are substantially the same as the attaching plates 4 and 35and the slide bars 5 and 36. The pawl 59 differs from the pawl 37 inthat it is provided with one ratchet tooth 62 and has a notch 63 on theupper side thereof. In addition, the pawl 59 includes an outer endportion 64 which extends beyond the cover 61 and may be manuallymanipulated in a manner similar to that of the pawl 37 (Fig. 5). Theassembly of the attaching plate 56, the pawl 59, the cover 61, and thespring is maintained by a pivot pin or rivet 65 in a manner similar tothe pins or rivets 21 and 48. The pawl 59is actuated into and out ofengagement with the ratchet 58 by pawl-actuating means or shoulders 66and 67 which strike the sides of the pawl forming the ratchet tooth 62as shown by the broken line portion of Fig. 6.

The spring 60 functions in a manner similar to that of the spring 42.Like the spring 7 (Fig. 7), the spring 60 has an upper transverseportion (not shown) which is seated in an aperture 68 in the plate 56and has a lower end portion 69 engaging the notch 63. When the pawl 59is in the operative position, the notch 63 is disposed to the left of animaginary line 70 extending through the center of the pin 65 and theaperture 68. Similarly, when the pawl 59 is disposed in thenon-operative position, the notch 63 is disposed to the left of the line70 as shown in the broken line portion of Fig. 6. 1n the non-operativeposition, the upper side of the pawl 59 contacts a flange 71 on thecover 61 as shown by the broken line portion of Fig. 6. The cover 61also includes a lower flange 72 and a flange 73, which flanges maintainthe proper spacing between the cover 61 and the plate 56 for housing theoperating parts of the bracket 55.

As shown in Fig. 2 by the arrows 74, the spacing between the back of thepicture 2 and the wall 13 is very small and equal to the over-allthickness of the bracket 1. The heads of the screws 3 and 14 do notinterfere with such spacing and the resulting assembly is a very compactand neatly appearing picture hanging snugly against the wall.

The device of this invention sets forth a picture bracket which holds apicture or the like snugly against a wall in a neatly appearing manner.At the same time, the device includes easily adjustable means forhanging a picture in a permanently straight manner free from vibrationsor other disturbing factors which usually cause pictures and the like tobecome crooked over extended periods of time. Moreover, the deviceincludes a minimum number of parts composed of easily fabricated sheetmetal having in their assembled form a minimum of thickness whichresults in the minimum spacing between the picture and wall.

in the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations have beenimplied therefrom as such words are used for descriptive purposes andare intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein is by way of example and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact construction shown.

Having now described the invention, construction, operation and use of apreferred embodiment thereof and the advantageous, new and usefulresults obtained thereby; the new and useful picture hanging bracket andreasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled inthe art are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for hanging framed pictures or the like upon :a wall,comprising a bracket member, means for connecting the bracket to apicture or the like, a slide bar member slidably mounted upon thebracket member,

means at the upper end of the bar member for attachment to a wall, aratchet on one of the members, a ratch et-engaging pawl on the other ofthe members, the pawl being rotatable between ratchet-engaged anddisengaged positions, spaced means at the ends of the ratchet on one ofthe members for separately rotating the pawl, respectively, to ratchetengaging and disengaging positions, and a spring on one of the membersholding the pawl in either position.

2. A device for hanging framed pictures or the like upon a wall,comprising a bracket member, means for connecting the bracket member toa picture or the like, a slide bar member slidably mounted upon thebracket member, means at the upper end of the bar member for attachmentto a wall, a ratchet on one of the members, a ratchet-engaging pawl onthe other of the members, and spaced means at the ends of the ratchet onone of the members for separately rotating the pawl, respectively, toratchet engaging and disengaging positions.

3. A device for hanging framed pictures or the like upon a wall,comprising a bracket member, means for connecting the bracket member toa picture or the like, a slide bar member slidably mounted upon thebracket member means at the upper end of the bar member for attachmentto a wall, a ratchet on one of the members, a ratchet-engaging pawl onthe other of the members, the pawl being rotatable betweenratchet-engaging and disengaged positions, and spaced means at the endsof the ratchet on one of the members for separately rotating the pawl,respectively to ratchet engaging and disengaging positions.

4. A device for hanging framed pictures or the like upon a wall,comprising a bracket, means for connecting the bracket to a picture orthe like, a slide bar slidably mounted upon the bracket, means at theupper end of the bar for attachment to a wall, a ratchet on the slidebar, a pawl on the bracket movable between ratchet-engaging anddisengaged positions, a spring on the bracket holding the pawl in eitherposition, and pawl-actuating means at each end of the ratchet forrotating the pawl by contact therewith in opposite directions betweenratchetengaging and disengaged positions.

5. A device for hanging framed pictures or the like upon a wall,comprising a'bracket, means for connecting the bracket to a picture orthe like, a slide bar slidably mounted upon the bracket, means at theupper end of the bar for attachment to a wall, a ratchet on the slidebar, a pawl on the bracket movable between ratchet-engaging anddisengaged positions, a spring on the bracket holding the pawl in eitherposition, first pawl-actuating means at the upper end of the ratchet formoving the pawl to the disengaging position, and second pawl-aetuab ingmeans at the lower end of the ratchet for moving the pawl to theengaging position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS167,786 Pope Sept. 14, 1875 210,251 Grosclaude Nov. 26, 1878 522,510Church July 3, 1894 2,041,065 Hemphill May 19, 1936

